Should I Change Wards?

[funkymonkey]

Howdy All!

So I think I need a little input on a pretty simple problem, but I think I'm making it more complicated than it needs to be...

I've been sick with a really rare and wierd disease for over a year now. It's something doctors don't know anything about or how long I will be sick (could be months or could be years or could be life). It's totally unpredicable, one day I'll be able to think straight and feed myself and the next day I can't even walk straight let alone talk well.

My husband just recently landed his first job (yay!) and we moved to Utah. Our ward is different, our neighbors are different...people here very much just want to keep to themselves.

We did our best to let our situation known in our new ward and my husband even requested that the releif society have someone stop by once a week to just talk or bring lunch by. But it's been two months and nobody has come by. I know that with a new place it takes time to make friends and get to know people but that's an extra challenge when you can't make regular attendance to church. It just kinda confuses me because we're surrounded by LDS people (our ward is only three blocks) but there really isn't an outreach at all.

With that little change in environment asside, going to church regularly for me is not really an option right now. On my good days, I can go and sit through sacrament meeting and then come home and take big nap, but on my bad days I can't really even get out of bed.

Our ward used to meet at 1:00, which worked well because afternoons are usually better for me so I was able to go probably every other week (which was a HUGE improvement since before we moved) and just a month ago they changed to meet at 9:00.

I tried getting up early to go to our own ward's meeting time (even though my body was screaming for me to rest). I even prayed and the spirit told me to not push it and listen to my body. But I wanted to go and take the sacrament...I made it through about 15 minutes before I totally crashed and then went home and was realy sick for DAYS.

So I spent a month not being able to go and my husband would go by himself.

So I decided (and prayed about it too) that it was better for me to not deprive my body of the rest it needs right now and try going to a ward that met at 1:00. We went to an afternoon ward and it was great. My body was better rested and I made it through the entire hour and could even focus on what the speakers were talking about instead of "don't pass out, stay sitting up, don't pass out". It was wonderful to be able to start getting that spiritual cup filled once again after that time without going at all. It was also really nice for my husband to have someone to go with again.

So to me it makes sense to go to the ward that meets later in the day, for now. Taking the sacrament should be my sole priority right now.

I guess my question is, do I request that I move my records to the ward that I will be trying to attend?

Or do I just keep my records where they are and just go to the other ward in the meantime?

Has anyone had any experience with this kind of thing? anyone know what the process of this would be? what I might expect?

[KeithLBrown]

As a member of our Ward Bishopric I would suggest that you have a talk with the Bishop of the Ward that you are supposed to be attending and explain your situation to him. He should be understanding and willing to work with you in not only making sure that you receive some attention from the Relief Society, but he should also have no problem with you attending a Ward that meets at a later time especially due to your health conditions. He may also want to talk to the Bishop of the Ward that you would attend on your behalf. Your records should stay with the Ward to which you are assigned. I see no reason that they would need to be moved, but that is the decision of your Bishop. I know that we have people in my Ward that attend other Wards because of similar problems or even conflicting work schedules. The important thing is that they are at Church and that they are able to take the Sacrament.

Edited August 18, 2008 by KeithLBrown
Addition to text.

[Truegrits]

I think it more important that you DO attend, regardless of which Ward it would be, while also doing that which is, health wise, best for you.

I have no idea how Utah Wards operate, but my previous Church had three Wards that, yearly, alternated times. One year I went at 0900; then next at 1100; one year at 1200; then one year at 1300; so would you be changing Wards yearly to maintain the time that you wanted?

[funkymonkey]

so would you be changing Wards yearly to maintain the time that you wanted?

I'm not sure...I'm hoping I'll be stronger by the time the ward times change again so I can adapt to my own ward schedule. But I guess if I'm not stronger then I would have to...hope that's not the case!

[Misshalfway]

Keep your records in your home ward. There are lots of reasons for this. You are under the stewardship of your bishop. If your needs include attending sacrament at a different time, then the bishop can work together to form a working plan that is best for you. But keep your records there.....for tithing reasons alone.

I don't know what it is about some Utah wards. I am trying to figure how it all works and frankly it is sometimes disappointing the way we sometimes fail in our calling to bare one another's burdens that they may be light. I could probably wax long in my analysis and come up with unsatisfying conclusions. I wish it were different. I really do. Perhaps counseling directly with the RS Pres would help. I tried that in one ward and my needs fell on deaf ears. The next ward was a Godsend. And I thank the Lord for that RS pres. She was one of the angels in disguise.

May God send you the angels you need, my dear Funkymonkey! Take Care. And don't be afraid to ask for what you need.

[lilered]

As a member of our Ward Bishopric I would suggest that you have a talk with the Bishop of the Ward that you are supposed to be attending and explain your situation to him. He should be understanding and willing to work with you in not only making sure that you receive some attention from the Relief Society, but he should also have no problem with you attending a Ward that meets at a later time especially due to your health conditions. He may also want to talk to the Bishop of the Ward that you would attend on your behalf. Your records should stay with the Ward to which you are assigned. I see no reason that they would need to be moved, but that is the decision of your Bishop. I know that we have people in my Ward that attend other Wards because of similar problems or even conflicting work schedules. The important thing is that they are at Church and that they are able to take the Sacrament.

I totally agree with Keiths advise.

[ruthiechan]

I totally agree with Keiths advise.

Ditto on that, Kaith knows what's up and Misshalfway too.

[funkymonkey]

Thanks guys. :)

So I called my bish and he was fine with us going to the other ward on Sunday and will keep our records where they're at...and he asked what else we needed help with. Dunno what I was stressing about. He did say that a calling was headed our way for my husband and wanted us to be sure that it would work for our situation before we commit to it.

It was a good finish to the day. :)

[Moksha]

So I decided (and prayed about it too) that it was better for me to not deprive my body of the rest it needs right now and try going to a ward that met at 1:00. We went to an afternoon ward and it was great. My body was better rested and I made it through the entire hour and could even focus on what the speakers were talking about instead of "don't pass out, stay sitting up, don't pass out". It was wonderful to be able to start getting that spiritual cup filled once again after that time without going at all. It was also really nice for my husband to have someone to go with again.

Well, you have your compelling reason right there.

Glad to hear your Bishop is so helpful. :)